Vector - Answers A value that has a direction and a magnitude (length). Plain numbers can be called
"scalars" to explicitly distinguish them from vectors.
2D Graphics - Answers Displayed representation of a scene or an object along two axes of reference:
height and width (x and y).
3D Graphics - Answers Displayed representation of a scene or an object that appears to have three axes
of reference: height, width, and depth (x, y, and z).
2D display controller - Answers A type of display controller that is intended for 2D operations, like
windows, popup menus, text, etc. This kind of display controller can usually not interpolate color values
within a primitive, and therefore lacks support for 3D drawing.
3D transform - Answers The act of converting the coordinates of a point, vector, etc., from one
coordinate space to another. The term can also refer collectively to the numbers used to describe the
mapping of one space on another, which are also called a "3D transformation matrix."
OpenGL - Answers A graphics API that was originally developed by Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI) for use on
professional graphics workstations. OpenGL subsequently grew to be the standard API for CAD and
scientific applications and today is popular for consumer applications such as PC games as well. OpenGL
ES is the version for embedded systems.
Pixel - Answers Shortform for 'picture element'. A pixel is the smallest element of a graphics display or
the smallest element of a rendered image.
Rendering - Answers The process of creating life-like images on a screen using mathematical models and
formulas to add shading, color, and lamination to a 2D or 3D wireframe. Hence: Rendering Engine - the
part of the graphics engine that draws 3D primitives, usually triangles or other simple polygons. In most
implementations, the rendering engine is responsible for interpolation of edges and 'filling in' the
triangle.
2 1/2 D display controller - Answers A 2D display controller that is able to perform the 2D operations
required to display 3D primitives. This usually means color interpolation and Z buffering.
3D display controller - Answers A type of display controller that fully supports 3D operations and
primitives. At a minimum, such a display controller can accept a 3D triangle, apply a 3D transform,
perform the apparent color determination at the vertices, project it onto the 2D bitmap, and draw it
with hidden surfaces suppressed. Today's 3D display controllers use the Z buffer algorithm for hidden
surface suppression.
3D texture - Answers A texture map that is a function of three variables. This is also called a "solid
texture", because the texture map is a volume. Solid textures have been used in diffuse color texture
, mapping to simulate things like marble and wood grain. Sometimes specifying the color in a volume is
simpler than specifying it on the surface of an object, especially if the object has a complex shape.
3D transform - Answers The act of converting the coordinates of a point, vector, etc., from one
coordinate space to another. The term can also refer collectively to the numbers used to describe the
mapping of one space on another, which are also called a "3D transformation matrix."
Adaptive space subdivision - Answers Space subdivision refers to the process of breaking up the scene
space into many small regions. Adaptive means this is only done where and when needed, instead of in
a fixed way up front. Adaptive space subdivision is often used by ray tracers. Octrees and BSP trees are
examples of subdivision algorithms that can be adaptive.
Aliasing - Answers The phenomenon that makes smooth lines and edges appear stair stepped or jagged.
Aliasing is also called the "jaggies".
Alpha buffer - Answers The collective name for the alpha values for every pixel of an image or bitmap.
Alpha buffered rendering - Answers Using an alpha buffer for rendering, as opposed to for image
compositing or matting. Alpha buffered rendering implies the ability to render semi-transparent
primitives.
Alpha buffering - Answers The process of rendering or compositing images using an alpha buffer. An
alpha buffer supplies an opacity fraction for every pixel.
Alpha value - Answers The alpha buffer value for a single pixel. An alpha value is a value indicating the
pixels opacity. Zero usually represents totally transparent (invisible) and the maximum value represents
completely opaque. Alpha values are commonly represented in 8 bits, in which case transparent to
opaque ranges from 0 to 255.
AND operator - Answers A constructive solid geometry (CSG) modeling operation on two objects. The
resulting object exists only where both input objects existed. This operation is also call INTERSECTION.
GIF - Answers A file format for storing images. GIF stands for Graphics Interchange format, and is owned
by Compuserve, Inc.
MPEG - Answers A lossy image file compression technique for motion pictures or animation sequences.
JPEG - Answers A lossy image file compression technique for still images.
Palette image format - Answers A format for storing an image that works much like pseudo color in a
display controller. Each pixel contains a color ID instead of the actual color value. The true color
represented by each color ID is defined in a table called the palette, which must also be stored with the
image. A palette is much like a LUT in a pseudo color display controller.